Coburg prepares for season of celebration, new beginnings in 2021
The 2021 season will be a year-long special event at Coburg with the club set to celebrate several big events, including its 130-year anniversary and the opening of the redeveloped Piranha Park.
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The 2021 season will be massive for the Coburg Football Club – and not just because of footy’s expected return.
The Lions will celebrate their 130-year anniversary next season, open the redeveloped Piranha Park, compete in the new AFL East Coast competition and launch their inaugural women’s team.
And celebrations started early with the confirmation the club’s seven-man leadership group have committed for 2021.
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Coburg general manager Seb Spagnuolo said the redevelopment of Coburg City Oval was on schedule to finish in June.
“The development of our venue, once it’s complete, we’ll have the best football facilities in the northern suburbs from a state league perspective,” he said.
“We can’t wait to show all that hard work off to our supporters and to our playing group.
“Really, we needed to get this work done for our players that have had to put up with sub-standard facilities for too long.”
The Lions had been facing the prospect of playing this season without a permanent home before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Spagnuolo said the planning for 2021’s 130-year celebrations were also well underway.
“With the year off we’ve had we’ve used that time wisely to plan appropriately,” he said.
“It’s really exciting for us, 130 years, and our club has gone through many transitions over the years from the VFA to the VFL and now the new competition.”
The club’s membership drive is expected to start this month.
In all 26 players have committed for 2021, including co-captains Peter McEvoy and Ryan Exon, Jesse Corigliano, Luke Bunker, Mitch Podhajski, Tom Silvestro and Jacob Ballard.
The new East Coast competition will see list sizes for standalone clubs reduced from 47 to 40 players and the salary cap reduced from $380,000 to $200,000.
“We’ve had many of our existing players re-commit for 2021, which goes to show the culture within the football club is one that players want to be involved in,” Spagnuolo said.
“The salary cap has come down almost half, so for our players to remain committed and take that sacrifice goes to show how excited they are by what our future holds.”
Coburg is expected to announce two major signings in the coming weeks.